Boro v Ipswich 0-2

[BearSmog 1,775 3.8k]

Introduction 

Welcome to the BearSmog matchday thread (aka GIFfest) where we see the mighty lions of Middlesbrough..

Take on the mighty.... umm tractors.. of Ipswich

As some of you may be aware I welcomed my 3rd child into the world 3 weeks ago..

So this is live footage of me writing this thread..

Boro head into this one off the back of a back to back to back goal fests so thus one will hopefully follow suit..

Although hoping for more Preston than Leeds/Bristol City

Where things seem to have clicked in an attacking sense 

The defending has been hit and miss..

But I am once again trusting in Carrick to get things right

Talking Points/Questions

Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season? 

Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

Will I ever sleep again?

Score Prediction

I am going to  go for a win, because I'm an optimist 

UTFB!

[Rob 6,422 9.8k]

4-0 to the boro

[Erimus74 5,343 5.5k]

We actually beat them 3-0 on the 9th December 1974 so im hoping, with it been the same day, that its an omen, small things & all that

[TeaCider24 18,313 23.4k]

1. Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

I think it'll be as you are, but with the way our luck has been going, Dieng will probably break his hand high fiving a young fan at the training group.

2. What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season? 

Momentum and team spirit, no stand out stars in their team, but they've carried on as they were from last season.

Plus they clearly have an excellent manager.

3. Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

You can't drop a guy who scored two, even if he should have scored five.

Latte Lath.

4. Will I ever sleep again?

Of course not.

[TLF10 5,418 7.1k]

Out the 10 players only 3 (Fry, Paddy and Hackney have a chance of being fit). Assuming none are fit then only line up I can see Carrick going with is:

Dieng

Howson VDB Clarke Bangura

Crooks Barlaser

Greenwood Rogers Silveria

Lath

[TLF10 5,418 7.1k]

@BoroSmoggie. Any snippets on injury front mate? Thanks in advance.

[TeaCider24 18,313 23.4k]

Massimo Luongo is suspended for them after 5 yellows, as is Brandon Williams.

So at least it's not just us missing players.

[Humpty 5,148 10.6k]

Congratulations @BearSmog

[RiseAgainst 5,000 4.1k]

Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

We might see Fry or McNair back, but I'm not confident. I think we'll have a few back the following week, but Saturday's squad will be another patchwork quilt of benchwarmers promoted to the starting XI and academy kids promoted to the bench.

What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season? 

Sheer euphoria at escaping League One after so many failed attempts. They're loving life back in the second tier, but once their results tail off, I think they'll end up mid-table. And there's no shame in that after promotion.

Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

Coburn every time. He works so hard and he's much more clinical - though I still think LL has a role to play, I'd rather see him come on as a late sub against tiring defenders. We really do need a striker next month, along with a new first-choice RB and an ACM.

Will I ever sleep again?

Eventually. Our six year old let us sleep in til 8.20 on Saturday. I almost wept.

[Redcar Rioja 9,035 8.8k]

1. Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

At current run rates I wouldn't be surprised if we nobble another couple in training this week. The Squad now picks itself, anyone who can stand up will be either Playing or on the Bench!

2. What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season? 

Continuity without major disruption and massive squad overhaul and as mentioned above, momentum and team spirit, carrying on where they left off. Litmus test will be when/or if they hit a sticky patch and confidence drains. The appointment of McKenna has clearly been a very astute choice, question is can they hold onto him?

3. Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

Right now I think it's a toss of the coin but they both offer something completely different. I would be sorely tempted to try and get them both on the pitch somehow with ELL moving to the left or even the coveted No.10 role!

4. Will I ever sleep again?

I used to think once they get to two or three it will be easier, it wasn't. When they were around eight I then conceded that once they become teenagers and more independent then things would become easier but no, that's when the real nightmares began. Late teens and early twenties then would be me and the Mrs getting back some "me time", fat chance, the worries, anxieties, challenges and costs are worse than ever. My conclusion now is "I'll sleep when I'm dead"!

[Barnaby 1,152 2.3k]

17 minutes ago, Redcar Rioja said:

1. Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

At current run rates I wouldn't be surprised if we nobble another couple in training this week. The Squad now picks itself, anyone who can stand up will be either Playing or on the Bench!

2. What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season? 

Continuity without major disruption and massive squad overhaul and as mentioned above, momentum and team spirit, carrying on where they left off. Litmus test will be when/or if they hit a sticky patch and confidence drains. The appointment of McKenna has clearly been a very astute choice, question is can they hold onto him?

3. Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

Right now I think it's a toss of the coin but they both offer something completely different. I would be sorely tempted to try and get them both on the pitch somehow with ELL moving to the left or even the coveted No.10 role!

4. Will I ever sleep again?

I used to think once they get to two or three it will be easier, it wasn't. When they were around eight I then conceded that once they become teenagers and more independent then things would become easier but no, that's when the real nightmares began. Late teens and early twenties then would be me and the Mrs getting back some "me time", fat chance, the worries, anxieties, challenges and costs are worse than ever. My conclusion now is "I'll sleep when I'm dead"!

I got three girls....Kin nightmare as teenagers I even had one climbing out the upstairs window when we were asleep...And going on the lash...She was 14 That my friends is why I got no hair...And we stitched her knickers to her vest...Which caught us on the blind side...And youngest one came home from school with a bundle of "Fun" our first grandson...You couldn't make it up

[Redcar Rioja 9,035 8.8k]

20 minutes ago, Barnaby said:

I got three girls....Kin nightmare as teenagers I even had one climbing out the upstairs window when we were asleep...And going on the lash...She was 14 That my friends is why I got no hair...And we stitched her knickers to her vest...Which caught us on the blind side...And youngest one came home from school with a bundle of "Fun" our first grandson...You couldn't make it up

I've got two sons in their early to mid twenties now and it's a miracle I'm still alive to tell their tales (and that's just the ones I know off)! 

[AnglianRed 7,882 18.1k]

38 minutes ago, Barnaby said:

I got three girls....Kin nightmare as teenagers I even had one climbing out the upstairs window when we were asleep...And going on the lash...She was 14 That my friends is why I got no hair...And we stitched her knickers to her vest...Which caught us on the blind side...And youngest one came home from school with a bundle of "Fun" our first grandson...You couldn't make it up

So she really took after her old man then? 😆

[AnglianRed 7,882 18.1k]

Talking Points/Questions

Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

I heard on the grapevine that one or two may be ready to return, but given the time of year, we will probably lose more to the physio's table. Its as inevitable as Christmas.

What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season?

Not being Norwich? 🤷‍♂️

Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

After scoring a brace in our last game it would be cruel to drop The Barista. Think I'd keep him in and have Coburn as the impact sub.

Will I ever sleep again?

Give it about 18 years... 😜

Score Prediction?

Middlesbrough 2 - 1 Ipswich

 

Although having a much better season than us so far, historically Boro do well against the Tractor Boys on Teesside.

OVERALL:     W23   D16   L31

HOME:          W16   D9    L9

LAST 10 (H):  W6    D3    L1 (25th November 2001)

Our solitary loss in our last 10 home games was a 1-3 reversal, back in 2010. These fixtures saw Boro score 16 goals while conceding 7.

Therefore I confidently predict that my confidence in Boro getting a win will see us lose our heads, concede a penalty and have a player sent off. 😬

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by AnglianRed

[boro-unger 4,681 17.9k]

Will any of our walking wounded return for this? Or will we lose even more in the week?

Hopefully we can get one or two back. No idea who is closest though. 

 

What has been the secret to Ipswich's success so far this season? 

Forgetting they're back in the Championship. As soon as that realisation hits, it'll be like road runner when he realised he's ran off the cliff.. neet neet.

 

Who are you picking up front? Latte Lath or Coburn?

LL after his brace against Leeds. 

 

Will I ever sleep again?

Just wait until we hire another Pulis, then you can have a bit of kip at 3pm on Saturdays... congrats BTW!

 

Score prediction? 

I'll go for a draw. 2-2. Wouldn't be a bad result.